Amusement apparatus.



No. 866,659. PATENTED SEPT. 24,1907. 0. v. JOHNSON.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED XAB M, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HX'IEITTEI) SEPT. 24, 1907. G. V. JOHNSON.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 14. 1907.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 UNITED STATES CARL V. JOHNSON, OF GOLDFIELD, NEVADA.

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1907.

Application filed March 14,1907. Serial No. 362,370.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL V. Jonnson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goldfield, in the county of Esmeralda and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Apparatuses; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus, and more particularly to the form of such apparatus shown and described in Patent No. 798,966, granted to me September 5, 1905, to which reference is particularly directed. In said apparatus a loop or coil is shown in the same plane with the incline, having one of its sides hinged and adapted to be moved out of position while the rider is within the loop, and having one end of the loop terminating at a distance from the free end of the removable section at which point the incline is continued.

The present invention has for its object to provide means whereby the space between the termination of said loop and the continuation of the incline may be lessened or entirely spanned, whereby the substantially continuous surface is formed for the outward passage of the rider while he is passing around the interior of the loop.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the incline and loop provided with my improvement, the parts being arranged for entering the loop; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts arranged for leaving the loop; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the second trap; Fig. 4 is a view of the loop looking from the incline; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the second trap.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the incline, which may be of any desired construction provided at its lower end with a loop 2, and a continuation, 3. The loop 2 is supported upon a suit able framework, 4, in the usual manner, and the swinging section 5 is hinged at 6 with its free end adapted to be locked in alinement with the lower end of the incline l at the upper end of the continuation, 3.

The section 5 is locked in its closed position by the bolts 6, in the same manner as shown in my former patent, which are adapted to be withdrawn by means of the bail, 7 and lever, 8, and cord, 9, as shown in said patent. One or more weights or counterbalances, 10, for swinging said section open or into its elevated position, are connected with the free end of the section by means of one or more cables, 11, which pass over pulleys, 12, on the frame, 4, and the arm or extension, 13.

Pivotally secured to the inner end of the loop, 2, is a trap or platform, 14, which is adapted to be held in a vertical position by means of one or more hooked arms, 15, which are adapted to engage with pins, 16, upon the edges of the trap. A tripper, 17, preferably in the form of an elbow lever, is pivotally secured to each edge of the trap or platform, 14, in position for one of its arms to engage with the projecting end, 18, of the bar, 15, and raise its hook or shoulder, 19, out of engagement with the pin 16 1 whenever the tripper is actuated, thereby releasing the platform and permitting it to swing down into line with the termination of the loop with its free end at or near the portion of the incline from which the continuation, 3, extends.

The trippers are preferably actuated by means of two chains, 20, each of which is connected at one end with one of the ends of the lever, 17, and has its opposite end connected with a lever, 21, which is pivotally secured to the frame, 4, in position for being engaged by the free end of the swinging section 5.

Each of the levers, 21, is pivotally supported upon a pintle, or bracket, 22, and held in horizontal position by a chain, 23, connected thereby between the pivotal point and the free end of the lever, whereby as soon as the section 5 is released, the lovers 21 will be swung outward and the lovers 17 swung upon their pivots by the chains, 20, so as to lift up the free ends of the-rods, 15, and thereby release the trap or platform, 14.

The platform is brought down into its horizontal position by means of a weight, 24, which is suspended at the ends of a cable, 25, said cables being passed over rollers, 26. To insure the instant starting of the trap downward as soon at it is released, a coiled spring, 27, is preferably connected with the free end of the trap at one end and with the frame 4 at the other.

To prevent the sudden closing of the trap when actuated by the spring and weight as above described, which would jar the loop and thereby detract from its use by the rider, a cord or cable, 28, is secured to each side of the free end of the trap and passed over a pulley, 29, and provided at its lower end with a plurality of weights, 30, which are adapted to be lifted successively as the trap moves downward, thereby gradually decreasing the speed of the trap in closing and permitting it to pass into its horizontal position without a jar by the time the rider has encircled the interior of the loop. I

As above described, it will be seen that when the rider. enters the loop a continuous track will be provided around which he can pass with safety, but which will open upon its side to afford an exit, and, at the same time, the space through which he enters the loop will be closed by another trap extending from the termination of the loop to the continuation of the incline, thereby avoiding any risk or danger of accident which might occur by the inability of the rider leaping the space that would otherwise be formed by not bridging the point at which he enters the loop.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided with a loop in the plane thereof, and independent means for closing and opening the loop at two points.

2. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided with a loop, one side of which is removable and the end terminates at a distance from said removable portion, and a trap adapted to be moved down into line with said loop and thereby bridge said space.

3. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided with a loop, one side of which is removable, a trap hinged to the end of said loop and adapted to be moved down into position to form a continuation of the loop, means for suddenly starting said trap, and means for gradually stopping the same.

4. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided With a loop, one side of which is removable, and the end of the loop terminates at a distance therefrom, a trap hinged to the end of the loop, a spring and a weight connected with the free end of the trap, the weight being in sections, and a cord secured to the free end of the trap, the free end of which is provided with a weight.

5. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided with a loop, one side of which is removable, and the loop terminates at a distance therefrom, a trap hinged to said end and adapted to be swung down to bridge said space, means for moving the trap into its horizontal position, pins at the edges of the trap, a hinged arm adapted to engage with each pin, elbow levers pivotally secured to the sides of the trap in position for releasing said hooks from said pins, and means for actuating said levers when said section is removed from the loop.

6. In an amusement apparatus, an incline provided with a loop, one side of which is removable, and the end of the loop terminates at a distance therefrom, a trap secured to said end, means for holding said trap in a vertical position. levers pivotally secured in position to be ac tuated by said removable portion of the loop when the same is actuated, and means connected with said levers for releasing said trap.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnessesv CARL V. JOHNSON.

Witnesses J. D. MCCUNn, .T. A. YASMER. 

